Jessie Diggins launched her bid for a third Tour de Ski title with a dramatic victory on Saturday in the opening 1.4km freestyle sprint in Toblach, Italy.
“This was a huge surprise,” Diggins said after her first World Cup sprint win in three years, a triumph that left the three-time Olympic medalist elated and surprised. “I kind of thought I was getting old and not ready to have another sprint victory, so this was amazing.”
The win was particularly special for Diggins, as Toblach was where she earned her first career podium during a previous Tour de Ski.
Diggins timed her push to perfection, overtaking Finland’s Jasmi Joensuu by 0.31sec in the final meters. Switzerland’s Nadine Faehndrich finished third.
The win gives…